The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services having undertaken an oversight visit to the Kutama Sinthumule Private Prison in Makhado on 04 August 2005 and to the Mangaung Private Prison in Bloemfontein on 18 August 2005, reports as follows:

1. Introduction

The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services decided to undertake an oversight visit to the Private Prisons on 04 August 2005 and on 18 August 2005.

The following members of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services formed part of the delegation.

• Mr. DV Bloem (ANC) (Chairperson)
• Ms. LS Chikunga (ANC)
• Mr. NB Fihla (ANC)

• Mr. S Mahote (ANC)

• Ms. MW Makgate (ANC)
• Mr. MS Moatshe (ANC)
• Mr. MJ Phala (ANC)
• Mr. LJ Tolo (ANC)
• Mr. ET Xolo (ANC)

• Ms SA Seaton (IFP)

The objectives of the visit were:

• To gain first hand knowledge of how the private prisons operated. The Committee wanted to understand what security measures the prisons have in place and to ascertain the programmes offered at these institutions and the effectiveness of rehabilitation.
• To interact with the inmates incarcerated at the private prisons to find out what problems they experience, successes of the institutions and to find solutions to the problems.
• To establish whether the institution complies with the requirements of the Act.

The following are the findings of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services:

1. Kutama Sinthumule Private Prison

The Kutama Sinthumule prison was named after two traditional leaders of the area of Makhado. The prison is being managed by the South African Custodial Management (SACM) under the directorship of Mr S Korabie. The Department of Correctional Services has awarded a 25- year contract to SACM.

The facility is divided into 3 prisons. Two of the prisons accommodate 1152 inmates and the other accommodates 720 inmates. The prisons are also colour coded and inmates wear blue, green and yellow uniforms. Each prison is divided into distinct sub units e.g. the Blue prison is divided into 3 sub units. Each sub unit is divided into 4 blocks and the head of the block is called the Unit manager. The facility holds many inmates with long sentences (one inmate serves a sentence of 1100 years + 27 life sentences).

The facility is a keyless facility where the movements and activities of staff and inmates are monitored and controlled from a central control room. The entrance and exit control systems are highly effective and the efficiency of staff on duty ensures that no one leaves or enters the facility, unless authorized to do so.

All inmates are assessed and vetted when admitted to the facility. Sentences are also verified every 24 hours. Daily searches are conducted at the facility. Access is controlled by finger print verification. The facility also has an electronic surveillance system. Inmate counts are conducted 4 times daily at 06h00, 12h00, 18h00 and at 20h00. The facility is patrolled on a twenty four hour basis and staff makes use of equipment called the "zapper snapper", which helps staff to stay awake (the equipment makes a noise in the ear).

All staff are briefed on the current security situation in the facility before they start with their duties on a daily basis and they are debriefed after lock-down. A security manager will debrief the staff in the event of normal operations and a psychologist or social worker after a serious incident has occurred.

The facility has had no escapes thus far. The management stated that they consider the human rights and dignity of all inmates. The facility attempts to keep inmates constructively busy.

The facility is monitored by the Department of Correctional Services through a fixed penalty system. A penalty of R300 000 is given if any escapes or unnatural deaths occurs at the facility. The management can pay up to R20 000 for breach of service levels, building infrastructure or maintenance problems. The facility can also be penalized for its security environment, cell environment and food services.

This system keeps management on its toes and has up to now received no penalties.

The facility has 2 permanent doctors, 1 dentist, 1 dental assistant, 24 senior professional nurses, a pharmacist and medical assistant personnel. The facility also has a fully equipped dental room. The hospital has dealt with a number of medical emergencies.

Food services are provided by Royal Foods Correctional Services who have demonstrated their capacity and efficiency to provide more than 9500 meals per day to inmates and staff.

A total of 92 inmates work in the kitchen on four different shifts. The inmates working in the kitchen receive formal training on food and related services. Once qualified, they are rotated to provide an opportunity for others to be trained.

Meal times:

07h15 - Breakfast; 12h15 - Lunch; 16h30 - Supper

The staff component consists of ninety percent (90%) previously disadvantaged individuals who were recruited locally and through this process contribute to socio-economic upliftment of the staff and the town in general.

All staff have to undergo an annual 40-hour compulsory refresher training programme to provide them with the skills and competencies to face the challenges ahead.

The facility complies with all the principles of BEE and it was mentioned that the SACM is an equal opportunity employer and employs a number of disabled individuals. The upliftment of women in society is also a key aspect and a number of female officers were placed in supervisory positions to take care of maximum security inmates.

The rehabilitation and development of inmates form a critical part of the operational management of the facility. The programmes provided by the facility are embedded in a structured day programme, which starts from 06h00 until 18h00. All programmes that inmates attend are specifically designed for their own development. Ten inmates attend a specific programme at a time. The facility has a total number of 35 teachers and 32 social workers.

The following programmes are offered at the facility:

1. Educational programmes.
2. Spiritual Care – many religious leaders offer spiritual programmes
   at the facility.
3. Textile training – the uniforms of inmates are manufactured at the facility.
4. Motor mechanics – this programme is facilitated by an inmate. Tools used during the programme are locked away in a cabinet specifically made for it. Routine checks on tools are also being done.
5. Sport – when inmates return from the sports fields, they must sit on a body chair which scans their bodies for any strange objects they might have picked up.

Other programmes offered at the facility include wood work, horticulture and art. The facility also has a fully equipped laundry which is run by the inmates. The fully equipped gymnasium and computer room assist in keeping inmates busy.

The facility is a cashless prison and things bought at the kiosk are deducted from monies in the inmates’ trust account. Inmates are allowed to make phone calls only on Saturdays and Sundays. An inmate can register up to 10 numbers that he will telephone. Each phone call is recorded. Inmates can purchase airtime vouchers to make their calls and this is also debited from their trust accounts.

1. Though each housing unit has a grievance box, the inmates complained that their grievances are never attended to. Inmates are also scared to register their complaint with their Unit managers, as they fear victimization at the facility.

2. Many of the inmates complained that they are very far from their hometowns e.g. Cape Town or Durban and therefore never get family visits or even correspondence from home. They apply for transfers, but this never materializes.
3. Though the Committee was informed that the facility has two full time doctors, many inmates complained that they only see the doctor a month after registering their complaints. Medication is not easily obtainable and inmates often do not receive the required medication.
4. The inmates stated that they do not have enough clothing such as socks.

1. Mangaung Private Prison

GSL Correction Services manages the facility through Unit management, Sentence management, Direct supervision, Personal Officer Scheme and relaxed regime. GSL is in partnership with Liberty Adult Education as a benchmark for ABET portfolios.

The prison consists of six (6) housing units, which provide 488 available prisoner places. Each unit consists of eight (8) streets and provides sixty four (64) available prisoner places per street.

The Department of Correctional Services has awarded a 25-year contract to GSL.

The facility has 2 permanent doctors who are on duty 24 hours a day. 18 professional nurses, 10 social workers and 2 psychologists employed by GSL, and 2 psychologists from Afrox, render services to inmates.

Training and development must be planned, monitored and measured, otherwise it stands little chance of adding value to the company and the skills and knowledge of the employees. GSL Correction Services recognize that the training and development of employees is an important element in providing quality service to customers. Training, development and skills broadening are often used interchangeably, but they are different and meet different needs.

GSL is committed to training at all levels with the emphasis of life-long learning and satisfying contractual obligations. The outcomes for education and skills development for the facility can be summarized as follows:

1. Improvement of the quality of life of employees and their prospect for mobility.
2. Improvement in the productivity and delivery of quality assured prison service.
3. The encouragement of employees to participate in the active learning environment of GSL.
4. The provision of the opportunity to gain work experience to be multi –skilled.
5. Bursaries were awarded to 40 employees to further their studies.

Training and development programmes.

The following training and development programmes are offered to employees:

Refresher training, life skills training, diversity training, personal financial planning, time management, hostage training, computer literacy, stress management as well as a health and safety empowerment programme.

All inmates are assessed to determine which courses they qualify for.